Collapsible box



Aug. '3, 1937. 'r. MUNROE 2,088,959 COLLAPSIBLE BOX Filed April 26, 1955 I ""'-mm 4 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 3, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE COLLAPSIBLE BOX Thomas Munroe, Oakwood, Ohio Application April 26, 1935, Serial No. 18,351

4 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in collapsible boxes or crates.

It is one of the principal objects of my invention to provide a collapsible or knock-down box 5 or .crate which may be easily and solidly locked by corner clips and bands after it has been assembled around the object to be shipped within it.

Nails, which often mar the, object shipped by the crate, are dispensed with, as well as wires that require special holes in the cleats and. slots to receive them. Instead, my invention contemplates the use of metal corner locks that are easily applied to the bottom and top corners of the crate, and firmly locked thereto by binding lobands which are passed around bendable projections on them. When these bands are cut, the crate may be readily disassembled to release the article it contains. These bands not only serve to hold the corner locks on the crate, but to strengthen it as well;

My collapsible crate is particularly adapted for the shipment of electric refrigerators and other objects which are often marred when the crate is disassembled, if nails are used to firmly secure the crate parts together. When tying wires are employed for this purpose, special holes must be provided in the cleats and slots to receive these wire-s, which are open to the further objection that they are inconvenient to tie together.

My corner locks are sufiiciently bendable to permit them to be applied to the bottom of the crate before the vertical members are assembled thereon, so that after the assembly has been completed the sides of these corner locks may be drawn inwardly against them by the bands which encircle the crate to strengthen it.

Other important and incidental objects will be brought out in thefollowing specification and particularly set forth in the subjoined claims.

v In the accompanying drawing illustrating one form of embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible box to which my corner locks and co -operating bands are applied. Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through one corner portion of said box. Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of my corner locks in a position to be applied to one of the top corners of the box. Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of my corner locks ready to be applied to a bottom corner of the box. And Figure 5 is a top plan view of the corner lock illustrated in Figure 4, showing the reinforcing ribs thereon.

In order to illustrate one form of application of my corner cleat and band construction, I have shown in Figures 1 and 2 a collapsible box adapted to receive an electric refrigerator for shipment. In this instance the box comprises a detachable base I having bottom cleats 2 and top cleats 3 between which there is a bottom liner 4. Adapted to be assembled upon the outwardly turned, 5 horizontal edges of a vertical liner 5, above the projecting portions of the cleats 2, are vertical 1 corner members 6.

Secured to the lower ends of the vertical members B, are transverse cleats I that also engage 10 the horizontal edge portions of the liner 5 above the projecting portions of the cleatsZ when the box is assembled. To the bottom corners of the cleats 2, there is applied'a corner lock 8 preferably constructed in a punch press of sheet 15 metal. It is formed as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5, except that in the latter figures it may be reinforced by raised ribs 9.

One end Ill of this locking member is preferably in the form of a triangle which is adapted to fit against the under surface of the cleat. Projecting from the sides of this triangular end ID are vertical sides H, II separated a slight distance from each other. These sides are adapted to be bent inwardly against the cleats 2 and I from initial, outwardly inclined positions shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. They are at first bent outwardly so that the vertical members 6 carrying the cross cleats I may be conveniently assembled within them after they are applied to 30 the bottom cleats 2.

The bendable sides ll, ll of each corner lock 8 are formed horizontally and then vertically to provide horizontal and vertical portions [2 and I3 respectively. In the case of the bottom corners of the box, the horizontal portions ll of the corner locks 8 rest upon the cleats 1 when the sides ll of those locks are bent against the sides of the cleats. (See Figure 2.)

Formed outwardly from the free edges of the vertical portions l3 of the corner locks 8 are ears or lugs l4. Between the latter and the horizontal portions l2 of the locks 8 binding bands l5 are adapted to be passed and tightened, after which the lugs M are turned down over them, not only to hold these locks solidly in their corner locking positions but to strengthen the portions of the box which the bands encircle. In Figures 1 and 2 these bands areshown to be drawn tight and connected together to bind the bottom corner locks 8 firmly against the bottom cleats of the box.

Center locks constructed like the metal clips IS in Figure 1, and having single lugs II, are applied to the middle portions of the cleats 2 and, 1 55 to receive the bottom band [5 and thereby assist in firmly securing the lower portion of the box in its assembled state.

Secured to the corner members 6 above the cleats l, are transverse cleats l8, and above them similar cleats I!) are attached to these members to receive binding bands 20 and 2| similar to the band IS.

The numeral 23 designates the detachable top of the box. Diagonal members 22 extend from the bottom transverse cleat 1 to top transverse cleats 24 secured to the upper ends of the vertical members 6, while short vertical members 25 are connected between the cleats 1 and the cleats l8, and the cleats l9 and the cleats 24.

Each top corner lock is formed in its top triangular portion ID with a nail hole 26 through which a nail 21 may be driven into a top cleat 28 similar to the bottom cleat 2, to firmly secure the lock thereto. (See Figures 1, 2, and 3). Against the top transverse cleats 24 the sides II of the corner locks are then pressed, and a binding band 29 passed above the lugs l4, after which the latter are bent over this band thus making the top as secure as the bottom.

The box which has thus been firmly locked in its assembled position about the object which it contains, may be easily disassembled to unpack that object by severing the bands I5, 20, 2| and 29, and in the case of the bands l5 and 29, turning the ears of the locks outwardly to release them.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A corner lock for application to the corners of a collapsible box, comprising a fiat metal member having a triangular top, separated bendable with said sides, and bendable lugs at the free edges of said vertical portions.

3. A corner lock for application to the corners of a collapsible box, comprising a fiat metal member having a triangular top, separated bendable sides projecting vertically from the side edges of said top, horizontal portions projecting inwardly from the free edges of said vertical sides, and then downwardly to form vertical portions parallel with said sides, and reinforcing ribs extending from said side to the adjacent horizontal portions of said member.

4. A corner lock for application to the corners of a collapsible box, comprising a fiat member having a triangular top formed with a nail hole to receive a nail to attach it to said box, separable bendable wings projecting vertically from the side edges of said top, and horizontal portions projecting inwardly from the free edges of said wings. and then downwardly to form vertical portions parallel with said wings.

THOMAS MUNROE. 

